Georgetown University vs Howard University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Georgetown University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Howard University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Georgetown University at $18,599 vs Howard University at $25,242. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,850 vs $58,650.
| Metric | Georgetown University | Howard University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Private | Private |
| State | Dc | Dc |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $18,599* | $25,242 |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $60,850* | $58,650 |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer Science (98/100)* | Computer Science (95/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $15,888* | $21,243 |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000 | $95,000 |
Georgetown University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Howard University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Georgetown University at $18,599 vs Howard University at $25,242. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,850 vs $58,650.
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Georgetown University and Howard University graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
Average debt loads run moderate but not equal — Georgetown University at $18,599 versus $25,242 at the alternative. At standard repayment terms the monthly difference is $71/month, which is real money over a decade but small enough that the program-fit and earnings considerations should usually outweigh it.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $58,650 and $60,850. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Dc, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.